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All three of our iP4s had this issue, including the reception issue. Took them all back as the 3GSs "just work." Almost think that people messaging that they are without the reception issues are Apple employees...makes you wonder. Come on, they are all virtually made the same.
 
IT IS A PROBLEM WITH YOUR BACKUP- PLEASE READ


I had this problem weeks ago, right around the time I updated my iPhone 3gs to the 4.0 GM build.
I found that by resetting my Network settings under General- Reset, It would correct the issue temporarily.
However, when I got my iphone 4 and restored my backup, I had the same issue again with the proximity sensor not working.
It seemed to be an issue with my backup files being corrupted. The proximity sensor would work fine when I restored the device to factory settings, but when I restored my BACKUP, it would cease functioning.

I found the only way to correct the error was to set up the iPhone 4 as a new phone and import my contacts again.

Try doing a complete restore, but DO NOT RESTORE YOUR BACKUP!
Test it first to see if the sensor works properly.

Edit- guess this didn't help people. It definitely fixed my problem, and bear in mind that this problem FOLLOWED me across devices (From 3gs to 4.0). I even took my 3gs into the shop and got it replaced. When I restored from the backup of the old device, it stopped working again.
I hate to rain on your parade, but my iPhone 4 has the proximity sensor issue despite being set up as a new phone.
 
I have 2 phones and both have this issue. The proximity sensor doesn't work well and the screen is activated during calls resulting in muting or hanging up calls. I have no reception issue so I guess I was lucky at first but not with this one. Hope the update fixes this.

You got the punctuation wrong: "I have 2 iPhones, 4 with this problem" :)
 
I have a customer whose iPhone 3GS's proximity sensor worked in reverse: he'd put the phone up to his head and the phone would light up, meaning his ear would touch the screen and end the call, or mute it, etc. When he pulled the phone back down away from his ear it would go dark! Totally the opposite of how it is supposed to work.

We took the phone out of its case (a leather one) and it worked fine! Put my iPhone 3GS into his case and had the same problem. Put his back into his case and the problem came back. Put his into my case and his problem went away.

We got out the scissors and modified his case up at the top, where the proximity sensor is, and it worked fine.

I know we're talking about the iPhone 4 and not the 3GS but it seems to me that a case that blocks the proximity sensor could be the problem for any iPhone.

Advice: if you're using a case, and you're having problems with the proximity sensor, take the case off and see if it's still a problem.

This is always my answer in the past when people have this problem. Cases often get loose and get in the way of the sensors. However, with the iPhone 4 problem, this is not related to cases. I do not use a case and still have the problem. I actually own a bumper as well, but that case would be pretty hard pressed to get in the way of the sensors.
 
You know, I agree with ffonsok. I too have a 3GS and the day after I upgraded to OS4, I had problems with my proximity sensor. My ear was activating speaker phone and dialing numbers as I was trying to speak. Since then it's been ok. I think this is an intermittent iOS4 problem. It's just showing up more on the new iPhone because not all 3GS owners have made the leap to iOS4 yet.
 
I have problems with my proximity sensor as well, depending on lighting condition it quite often turn the screen back on and i end up either hanging up, muting, or calling someone else while on the line...frustrating
 
I've had this issue today. Talking to my dad earlier in the usual fashion; several times I muted the call and put him on loudspeaker. I have reset all network settings, and I'll see what happens.

I keep having my iPhone deactivate so that I can't use any apps - it just cancels the app straight away.

Not only that, as soon as I run out of power, it resets the time and date back to 1970. It's annoying having to tap through several hundred calendar alarms when I have to manually set the time/date.

These are the kind of problems which are go against one of Apple's selling main points. I don't expect problems like this.
 
Apple changed the physical location of the proximity sensor on the iPhone 4. With the 3G and 3GS, the proximity sensor was located immediately to the left of the speaker slot. On the iPhone 4, the front-facing camera now sits in the spot that used to be occupied by the proximity sensor. So, on the iPhone 4, the proximity sensor is ABOVE the speaker slot.

My iPhone 4 has experienced the proximity sensor bug, resulting in 2 calls that my cheek ended prematurely and one call where I sent keypad tones. If I stand in front of a mirror while connected on a call, I can carefully move the iPhone 4 around on my ear (moving it a few millimeters this way or that), and pretty easily invoke the proximity sensor bug. My iPhone 4's display will come on, even though the iPhone 4 is still up against my ear.

I am reasonably confident that EVERY iPhone 4 has the possibility to exhibit this proximity sensor "bug". I believe it has to do with the shape of individual ears and other factors, such as whether you have longer hair that hangs over your ear, etc. It is my guess that the new location of the proximity sensor ABOVE the speaker slot causes to sensor to be pointed into the hollow of the ear, where, at times, the bottom of the hollow of the ear is just far enough away that the proximity sensor reactivates the display (thinking the iPhone has been pulled away from the ear).

I do not believe the proximity sensor is faulty. Nor do I believe the location chosen by Apple is a bad one. I simply think Apple's software engineers need to tweak their software parameters for when (and how long) the proximity sensor does its job. This is nothing more than a software bug that will easily be squashed in the first software/firmware update.

Mark
 
'Since the software on every Mac is created by the same company that makes the Mac itself, you get a completely integrated computer that’s as secure, stable and powerful as it is elegant and easy to use. …

Unlike other computers that require you to spend hours configuring devices, a Mac connects to your digital camera, wireless device, or external drive and just works. Really.'

Marketing hyperbole, but the bit about integration and stability is mostly true (I'm not going to dignify the 1990's nonsense about "other computers" requiring you to "spend hours configuring" with a comment).

They should however have a disclaimer that reads "a few months after product launch", because being an early adopter of anything Apple is getting worse all the time. I did it with Leopard, iPhone 3G, Snow Leopard and MBP 17" (June '09) and they were all pretty messed up (not the 3G or MBP hardware, fortunately, but the software).
 
Its all in the way you hold the phone - to your ear. Quite a few of the videos how users with the phone at a 25 deg to 45 deg angle away from the head while using and complaining about the problem. I think quite a few of these issues would go away if they were holding the phone normally close to the face.
 
Non issue. Just avoid holding it in that way.


Steve

Sent from my iPhone

The proximity sensor is a HUGE is issue for me. My 3G was fine but this 4G hangs up, mutes or dials numbers on every call. I've tried every option I can think of, in a case, screen protector, holding it in different angles and distances but the display keeps flashing on and off. Return time if they don't get the issue fixed. I'm a lefty so I also have the 5 bar to 1 bar issue when it's out of my leather case. I'll try the reset to see if it helps.
 
BTW, everyone going through all of the trouble of resetting your network settings, etc. are, quite frankly, wasting your time. I've read lots of posts from people that said it worked, only to see them post a day or two later and say, no it didn't.

The only fix will be a software/firmware update by Apple. In the meantime, rather than reset your iPhone 4, you can take this to achieve the same results:

placebo.jpg


Mark
 
Oh, it is a POS because you were at Apple trying to use wifi only facetime at the the same time when about two hundred people were doing the same thing?LOL!
I love how people like you jump to conclusions only to get pwned in the end. I have the phone 4 and it is amazing! The screen, the speed etc.
And by the time Apple brings out iphone 5 they would have sold over 20 million iphone 4s.

Well, actually there was no one there using facetime that I could tell because no one knew any of the other model's telephone numbers or how to do it.

I initially liked the iPhone 4, but after the oxymoronic geniuses at the Apple store could not fix my friend's iPhone, I was trying to show her the iPhone 4 since she will need a new phone. Only when I tried facetime, her phone immediately popped up with an error that could not be canceled away. That is major fail for a brand new phone that advertises simplicity.

Your reasoning regarding what constitutes a great product is brain fail: there are more cheap cars sold in the world each year than expensive cars. Does that mean we should declare them a better product and pay hommage until the next cheap car is produced?

What do you think of Futurama making fun of iPhone buyers as mindless zombies? http://www.engadget.com/2010/07/03/eyephone-reference-mysteriously-disappears-from-online-clips-of/
 
The last "Problem with iPhone 4" thread on this forum went over 2000 replies.

MacRumors knows what they are doing.

Go to Mercedes Benz forum and it is dominated by people having problems with their Benz.

Go to a Sony forum and it is dominated by people with problems with their Bravia

Go to a Yamaha forum and...well you get it.

Commiserating with others on a manufacturers forum is natural and you get the impression the problem is EXPONENTIALLY worse than it is.

It may make you feel better to think the rest of the world shares in your plight. But the overwhelming masses of people don't even sniff a techie blog.

If you saw lines of people returning their phones and the mainstream media doing stories on that then you know there is a larger/widespread problem at play.

So far this hasnt been the case.

BUt Macrumors is here to make money and the money making topic d'jour is "problems with my iPhone 4". They know misery loves company and it also mean traffic.

There is no traffic in "iPhone works great for the masses".
 
I've experienced this problem many, many times with the iPhone 4. But never before with the 3G. This coupled with antenna issues, is just unacceptable....
 

So if the bridging antenna problem doesnt cut you off, holding the phone to your ear might... just might activate the display and hang up for you.


Brilliant. Seriously, you just couldnt make it up!

You have to wonder what kind of animals they used in the labs to test this phone.. Ones with no hands and ears by the sounds of it!
 
I am reasonably confident that EVERY iPhone 4 has the possibility to exhibit this proximity sensor "bug". I believe it has to do with the shape of individual ears and other factors, such as whether you have longer hair that hangs over your ear, etc. It is my guess that the new location of the proximity sensor ABOVE the speaker slot causes to sensor to be pointed into the hollow of the ear, where, at times, the bottom of the hollow of the ear is just far enough away that the proximity sensor reactivates the display (thinking the iPhone has been pulled away from the ear).
Sounds reasonable. I haven't dealt with it, but I imagine it's there. I've probably even done it but just never really cared enough to notice. I imagine we'll be seeing this addressed in a soon-to-come update, through firmware/software, along with other various bugs.


So if the bridging antenna problem doesnt cut you off, holding the phone to your ear might... just might activate the display and hang up for you.


Brilliant. Seriously, you just couldnt make it up!
So—who are you trying to convince that the iPhone 4 is a bad buy?
We really don't care to be subject to your personal affirmations.
 
Too many great things happening with this phone


So as a iPhone fan please pretend this isn't happening

Ow I'm a big apple fan. And the antenna problem wasn't here, it was even a bit better. But my prox. Sensor is a bit off indeed. Nothing they can't fix with an update, but I prefer to have 4 weeks more wait and a good phone instead of this work in progress.
And if I look at android and other smartphones, the gap is closing fast. It's just that I like the secure environment of the AppStore a lot. I never believe there is not any security risk with apple but it's much less then with any othermuch more open system. Be it osx or ios, the competitors seem to have much more security problems.
And my coworkers mobile windows based phones have way, way more trouble. A clean install once a month is nothing odd if you happen to use a bit more buggy/bad composed apps.

But I have to say I'm getting worried that the latest series of product releases have seen much more problems. And that was not as bad as it was 4 years ago. Althoug I do remember one hot afternoon with my core duo MacBook pro 15" on my knees. Darn that thing could burn like nothing else. On a cols winterday then again, it saved my fi gers from frostbite..... LOL
 
I experienced this just today. While on the phone, I noticed the screen light up. It switched to keypad and the 4 button was pushed.
 
i am on my second iphone 4 with same issues.... I think the slight movement of the proximity sensor to the right versus the 3GS results in sensor detecting past ear rather than ear.... When I hold phone in a more forward fashion I have not had problem....It does not feel natural but hopefully I will get used to it!
 
my iPhone got replaced yesterday, i had two issues 1) reception 2) proximity sensor

Genius bar said, wait for software update for reception issue and replaced the phone for proximity sensor.

i am assuming the replaced phone is new since it has serial starting 8 ...

What are the first five digits? Digits four and five are the week it was manufactured.
 
There's a simple reason why you see these articles, even duplicates like this one, and even on sites where you would normally expect them to cover positive things: negative news about Apple generates traffic, and thus, advertising revenue. Unfortunately emotion and eyes are the big driving factors behind news reporting online, and this leads to enthusiasm to report bad stories or blur the facts.

I have 2 phones from different runs, both with these 2 major issues. All phones are affected by the antenna issue, wether their users see it or not. This is defect by design, and expressly covered under the warranty as an issue Apple will need to resolve. The laws of physics aren't swayed by the RDF. Only some phones may be affected by the proximity issue, though it is wide spread.
 
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